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By midlandsmovies, Aug 14 2019 06:48AM

Beware the Moon with The Blair Witch Project at Dudley Castle

On the evening of Saturday 3rd August, in between the sporadic heat waves of this summer, I got to experience an outdoor screening of The Blair Witch Project. It was shown in the grounds of Dudley Castle, and what a perfect venue for such an unsettling film.

The area was plentiful yet enclosed, and most brought their own blankets and chairs. The turnout was fantastic; there were couples, big groups of friends and just people by themselves who wanted to enjoy a classic movie with atmospheric value.

The company behind this event is the Flatpack Festival who run all sorts of creative events mixing art forms and transforming spaces. For the fourth year running, they have partnered up with Beware The Moon to host annual outdoor screenings within the grounds of Dudley Castle. For the Blair Witch Project, they amped up the dramatics with subtle projections of the Witch symbols and slow moving forests on the walls, as well as glowing orange backlights from within the castle. It was fair to say they definitely used its uniqueness to their advantage.

It’s also worth noting that the area had all the conveniences within reach, from hot food and a bar to bathroom facilities along the side so that the audience was rarely disturbed. I often find that open-air cinemas have the bare minimum of facilities, so this was great to see.

Dudley Castle also accommodates a zoo, and to get to the screening area, you get to pass some of the animals along the way. This quirky little adventure through the zoo at night, when it was its most quiet, was exciting, new and playful; much like the naive characters we were about to watch on screen. It was just an afterthought, but it did feel like we were all being lured into an unknown area with a seemingly cheerful and curious intent.

For anyone who hasn’t seen The Blair Witch Project, it’s about 3 filmmakers who venture out into the woods and document an urban legend. Things start to go a bit south when they can’t make their way out of the woods. The found footage is what the audience sees, and it is one of the first of its kind, inspiring many other handheld camera footage movies since 1999.

Admittedly I hadn’t seen it since its release date and there hasn’t really been an excuse to re-watch it again until the opportunity of watching a predominantly outdoorsy type of film in an open-air cinema cropped up. The settings for viewing it on a cool August night were perfect.

The sun set at the right time and as the movie progressed and the characters got lost further into the woods, the darker the sky became and the deeper the film got; the synchronisation was sublime. You felt quite involved as the projections onto the castle walls added a sense of unsteadiness to help emphasise with the characters, and when the wind blew and you felt a sudden chill on your neck, it was like you were there in the woods with them. It made the whole experience all the more realistic.

Beware The Moon have previously shown Bride of Frankenstein, An American Werewolf in London, Night of the Living Dead, Lost Boys and 2019’s double bill of Beetlejuice and The Blair Witch Project. As you can see, with this being the 4th year running, it is highly popular and to go to Dudley Castle – one of the most haunted locations in Britain, and absorb in the atmosphere, as well as indulge in cinema’s most frightful pieces of work, was one of the most exceptional experiences for me.

I would highly recommend this, and as well as keeping your eyes peeled for next year’s event, you can also help suggest what you’d like to see on the screen. Tweet @Flatpack and hashtag #BewareTheMoon and your voice will be heard!

By midlandsmovies, Apr 3 2019 11:31AM

THE POPULAR ‘BEWARE THE MOON’ SCREENINGS RETURN TO DUDLEY CASTLE THIS SUMMER

Dudley Zoological Gardens are again teaming up with Flatpack Projects to present the cinema spectacular BEWARE THE MOON.

Dudley Castle will once again be transformed into a vast open-air cinema for two consecutive nights – Tim Burton’s afterlife comedy BEETLEJUICE will screen on Friday 2nd August, followed by the supernatural cult classic THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT on Saturday 3rd August 2019.

Previous Flatpack events have included spectacular outdoor screenings of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE LOST BOYS, THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN and AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON in the stunning castle courtyard. Guests at BEWARE THE MOON can enjoy hot food, a licensed bar, DJs and spine-chilling special effects projected onto the historic castle ramparts – with a very spooky surprise or two thrown in for good measure!

BEWARE THE MOON: BEETLEJUICE (15)

Friday 2nd August 2019, doors open at 7pm

Castle Hill, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 4QF

Tickets: £12 (concs £10), Double Bill Ticket: £20

Book via https://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/beetlejuice/

BEWARE THE MOON: THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (15)

Saturday 3rd August 2019, doors open at 7pm

Castle Hill, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 4QF

Tickets: £12 (concs £10), Double Bill Ticket: £20

Book via https://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/blair-witch/

Dudley Castle will also be hosting some additional outdoor screenings in May – the foot-stomping celebration of Queen BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (Friday 17th May 2019) and the classic love story DIRTY DANCING (Saturday 18th May 2019).

Some FAQs are below:

How do I gain access to the event?

Entrance to the event will be via the Fellows Pub car park, No 1 The Broadway, Dudley, DY1 4QB, from 7pm. Last admission on site will be 9.15pm.

Where can I park?

Please note parking is not available either at the Castle or on The Fellows pub car park for this event. Please park on the main Zoo car park (situated off the Tipton Road, DY1 4SQ) which will be open from 6.30pm. Car parking is included in your event cost. Please note the car park is an approximate 15 minute walk away from the event. Please advise staff in advance of any access needs and we can plan an alternative route. Please note this car park will close at 11.30 pm.

Please bring your booking confirmation ticket with you on the evening for admission purposes. This can be shown on your mobile phone. All guests listed on your ticket must arrive together. All concessionary ticket holders will also need to present proof of concession status. We advise guests to bring a torch with them as areas of the Zoo can be a little dark when you leave. We also advise sensible footwear to be worn and suitable clothing for the weather. Seating will not be provided so please bring picnic blankets and/or camping chairs. Tents are not allowed.

What time does it start?

Doors open at 7pm and we kick off with a DJ, followed by shorts at 9pm and the main feature at 9.30pm.

What time does it finish?

The event is expected to finish around 11pm and guests should also exit the site via the green gates on the Fellows Pub car park.

What happens if it rains?

The event will go ahead whatever the weather. TICKETS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE & NON-EXCHANGEABLE.

Will there be food and drink available to buy?

Refreshments will be available to purchase during the evening from the Courtyard café and inside the Castle Grounds. You are welcome to bring your own picnics too.

Are pets allowed?

Only assistance animals are allowed access to the site.

Is it suitable for children?

The film is rated 15. All children under the age of 16 yrs must be accompanied by an adult.

Can I smoke at the event?

Smoking is permitted in the designated smoking area by the Courtyard café.